Building a healthy co-operative for the future of farming
What ESG means to us
(Environmental, Social and Governance)
New Zealand farmers and growers work with nature every day to help feed the world. For nearly 80 years, Ballance has worked alongside them to procure and supply the nutrients that enable that to happen through nourishing New Zealand soils.
Like our shareholders and customers, Ballance works hard to ensure the environment that we rely so heavily on to grow pasture; the people and communities we serve and employ; and our governance structures that ensure we’re good and fair custodians and partners, are healthy and thriving.
Our ESG programme helps us focus on creating a business in a way that leaves things better for the people, the land and the communities we’re part of.
That means caring deeply about the health of New Zealand’s soil and waterways, helping farmers grow productive and sustainable businesses, looking after our people and communities, and running our co-operative with integrity and accountability.
Ultimately, ESG is about taking responsibility for the role we play in the future of New Zealand farming – making decisions today that help our people, our farms and our land thrive for generations to come.
If the natural world is healthy, so too are the people. Taiao ora, tangata ora.
Our strategy
If our future depends on the health and prosperity of the environment and our communities, having a clear framework that focuses our efforts on navigating challenges that may impact them, as well as unearthing opportunities to do more to strengthen them and improve resilience into the future, is vital.
We have a programme of work underway across many parts of the co-operative, which is captured and guided by our ESG strategy.
Ballance’s ESG strategy is broken into three key areas; Environment, People & Communities, and Future Ready Farming. There are 10 topics within each of those key areas where we’ve chosen to focus our efforts to create the biggest impact and glean the most value, and six of those have been deemed a high priority. They are:
- Climate change
- Nature and biodiversity
- Resource use
- Worker health, wellbeing and safety
- Responsible farming and agriculture; and
- Ethical procurement and supply chain.
Focus areas
Climate change
The reporting and reduction of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions from manufacturing, distribution and use of Ballance products that contribute to climate change and its associated impacts.
Nature and biodiversity
The use of fertilisers and their impact on the health of freshwater and marine systems, biodiversity, soil health and ecosystem resilience.
View Farm Sustainability
View Nitrogen Reporting support
Resource use and operational footprint
Optimising Ballance's use of materials, water, and other resources by improving efficiency, reducing emissions and waste, and embedding environmental performance into site operations and product design.
Worker health, safety and wellbeing
Ensuring the physical and mental wellbeing of workers across Ballance's operations and supply chain for responsible business practice.
Responsible farming and agriculture
Ballance's role in supporting farmers to adopt sustainable practices to ensure responsible farming practices across New Zealand.
Ethical procurement and supply chain
Evaluating and ensuring the ethical sourcing for materials and maintaining a transparent, sustainable supply chain.